Al Leiter takes the mound for Game 4 today in his first post-season appearance since Game 7 of the 1997 World Series. That game has always been a reference point for Leiter, who pitched well enough to keep the Marlins in the game through six strong innings until they won it in the 11th inning.

Leiter had his best regular season last year and this year has struggled at times. But by pitching his first shutout of the season Monday in Cincinnati, he enabled the Mets to make it to the playoffs, further enhancing his reputation as a big-game pitcher.

He also beat the Braves last week to end that horrid seven-game losing streak.

“I didn’t start out too well this season and I got on a little roll,” Leiter said, “and with that my confidence elevated and I felt good about what I was doing, and then there were just ups and down.

“But I’ll tell you this, if ultimately the Mets go to the World Series knowing that I didn’t have a great season, I would take this year over last year any day. Last year (17-6, 2.47) was a career year for me, but I was home. I wasn’t standing here. So you take personal numbers and personal achievements and throw it out the window when it comes to having the opportunity to go to the postseason and ultimately the world championship.”

Diamondbacks manager Buck Showalter is another who knows all about Leiter’s ability to rise to big occasions.

“I know how much it means to Al to be a part of this,” said Showalter, who managed Leiter in the Yankees rookie ball affiliate in the NY-Penn league. “It was very obviously that he had a real passion for competing and wanted to get to the big leagues. Whether it be a Met fan or a Yankee fan, I think he might have told me he was a big Yankee fan growing up. I’m hearing he is a big Met fan now.”

Leiter’s sore right knee was fine and he was ready to go today, but he didn’t throw as much on the side Wednesday in Arizona because of all the travel and because of the knee.

Leiter was asked about pitching around people in the Diamondbacks batting order, and he really didn’t have any great surprises when he said the No. 3, 4 and 5 hitters would be the ones to avoid most.

“Obviously it’s in the middle there somewhere,” Leiter said. *Mike Piazza said he was so worried he might be out for an extended period because of his sore thumb that he almost got sick.

“I was very worried because of the pain,” he said. “Then when the doctor talked about the possibility of an infection it didn’t sit well. In fact, I got sick thinking about it. I can’t grip a bat or put my glove on.”